Bundle turning machine



May 18, 1965 D. BUCCICONE BUNDLE TURNING MACHINE 9 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 18, 1963 INVENTOR. DARIO BUCCICONE BY OwmAM,27/zeb2iVa/zdm,

May 18, 1965 0. BUCCICONE 3,184,079

BUNDLE TURNING MACHINE Filed March 18, 1963 9 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. DARIO BUCCICONE May 18, 1965 D. BUCCICONE 3,184,079

BUNDLE TURNING MACHINE Filed March 18 1965 e Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR DARIO BUCCICONE May 18, 1965 D. BUCCICONE BUNDLE TURNING MACHINE 9 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed March 18, 1963 INVENTOR DARI O BUCCJCQNE Mags.

May 18, 1965 D. BUCCICONE BUNDLE TURNING MACHINE 9 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed March 18, 1965 INVENTOR. DADIO BUCCICONE May 18, 1965 D. BUCCICONE BUNDLE TURNING MACHINE 9 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed March 18, 1963 INVENTOR. DARIO BUCCICONE (harm/d6, 19%; mm

y 8, 1965 D. BUCCICONE BUNDLE TURNING MACHINE y 8, 1965 D. BUCCICONE 3,184,079

BUNDLE TURNING MACHINE Filed March 18, 1963 9 Sheets-Sheet 8 VIII/l/I/I/I/Il m INVENTOR. DARIO BUCCICONE BY Owmura, $412602; Wa/zdm alw ys.

May 18, 1965 D. BUCCJCONE 3,134,079

BUNDLE TURNING MACHINE Filed March 18, 1965 9 Sheets-Sheet 9 7. 1 14. CONTROL VOLTAGE OFF-ON l I I, 'I '190 fir INVENTOR. DARIO BUCCICONE FORWARD I FORWARD I LSI IREVERSE dittys.

United States Patent 3,134,979 BUNDLE TURNING MAClrHNE Dario Buccicone, Gary, Ind, assignor to Bucciconi Engineering (30., inc, Gary, Ind, a corporation of Indiana Filed Mar. 18, 1963, Ser. No. 265,794 1? Claims. (Cl. 214-1) This invention relates to article handling machinery and is more particularly concerned with improvements in a machine for turning over a bundle or pack of sheets or similar objects so as to position the objects in inverted condition.

In the handling of stacks of metal sheets or similar materials, it is frequently desired to turn over or invert a stack of the sheets. Turning may be necessary because one side of the sheet is coated or treated differently from the other side in a processing operation or one side is provided with a finish which is different from the other or, in the case of shaped sheets, the bundle may be turned to provide for feeding of sheets of the opposite hand. Machines of various kinds have heretofore been developed for turning bundles and similar objects but most machines previously used have not been entirely satisfactory in operation or they have been so constructed that their use has been severely limited. Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved bundle or pack turning machine which is especially adapted for cooperation with sheet handling conveyors in a sheet transporting line, which may be operated automatically for handling stacks of sheets of varying thickness and which is so constructed that the sheets may be passed through the machine without being inverted, if desired.

It is a more specific object of the invention to provide a bundle turning machine which may be set in a conveying line and operated so as to automatically turn over each successive bundle, which grips the bundle and encloses the same while it is being turned over, and which may be set to a non-operating position, where it is open at both the entrance and discharge sides, thereof so as to allow material to pass through the machine Without being turned over.

It is a still more specific object of the invention to provide a bundle turning machine which includes a rotatably supported drum adapted to be turned through 180 to invert a bundle and to be positioned after each turning cycle so as to accept and turn over a succeeding bundle without reverse rotation.

It is another object of the invention to provide a bundle or pack turning machine which comprises a rotatably mounted drum having parallel clamp and convey-or sections, mechanism for driving the conveyor sections so as to first bring the conveyor sections together on a bundle in order to clamp the same With pressure being applied uniformly over the surface area of the bundle, mechanism for closing the drum so as to enclose the bundle, mechanism for disconnecting the drive for the conveyor sections and mechanism for rotating the drum after it is closed to invert the bundle and for thereafter opening the drum and ejecting the bundle from the drum.

It is a :further object of the invention to provide a bun dle turner which comprises a .rotatably mounted cylindrical member having a pair of spaced parallel roller conveyor sections movably mounted therein and power operated means for first bringing the conveyor sections into clamping engagement with a bundle delivered onto the lowermost conveyor section and thereafter turning the cylindrical member through 1-80" to invert the bundle, and power operated drive mechanism for rotating the rollers in the lowermost conveyor section which drive mechanism is disconnected while the cylindrical member is rotating.

Biddfild ice These and other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from a consideration of the bundle turning machine which is shown by Way of illustration in the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIGURE 1 is an elevation of one end of a bundle turning machine embodying the principal features of the invention, the machine being shown with the end cover members removed;

FIGURE 2 is an elevation of the discharge end of the machine with a stack or pack of sheets therein prior to the turning operation, portions of the machine being broken away and other portions omitted;

FIGURE 3 is a vertical section taken on the line 3-3 of FIGURE 1 at one end of the machine, to an enlarged scale, and with portions broken away;

FIGURE 4 is a horizontal section taken on the line 44 of FIGURE 1, with portions omitted and other portions broken away;

FEGURE 5 is a vertical section taken on the line 55 of FIGURE 2, to an enlarged scale;

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary elevation at one end of the ma chine, with portions broken away;

FIGURE 7 is a fragmentary section taken on the line 7-7 of FIGURE 6, to an enlarged scale;

FIGURE 8 is a vertical section taken on the line 8-8 of FIGURE 3, to a smaller scale;

FIGURE 9 is a vertical section taken on the line 9-9 of FIGURE 3, to a smaller scale;

FIGURE 10 is a vertical section taken on the line 1lllil of FIGURE 3, to an enlarged scale;

FIGURE ll is a fragmentary section taken on the line 11- 1]. or FIGURE l0;

FIGURE 12 is a partial vertical section taken on the line 12-12 of FIGURE 4;

FIGURE 13 is a fragmentary section taken on the line 13-13 of FIGURE 4, to an enlarged scale;

FIGURE 14 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 14-44 of FIGURE 1, to an enlarged scale;

FIGURE 15 is a side elevation of the mechanism shown in FIGURE 14;

FIGURE 16 is a fragmentary elevational view taken on the line 1 61t5 of FIGURE 6; and

FIGURE 17 is a wiring diagram.

The bundle turning machine 19 which is illustrated in the drawings (FIGURES 1 and 2) is especially designed for use in a metal sheet handling line and is adapted to be placed between spaced ends of horizontally disposed, longitudinally aligned conveyors 11 and 12. The conveyors l1 and 12 are driven in the same direction by power mechanism (not shown) which is independent of the mechanism for operating the bundle turning machine it The conveyor ll which serves as an infeed conveyor for the bundle turning machine 10 is adapted to advance into the machine it) a stack or bundle B of metal sheets 5 and supporting pallets P and the conveyor 12 is adapted to receive the bundle B as it is discharged from the machine. The bundle turner it? is adapted to be operated to either pass the bundle B through the same from the infeed conveyor ii to the outfeed conveyor 12 or to clamp the bundle, rotate it through and deliver it to the outfeed conveyor 12 in inverted position, the operation being at the option of the operator.

The bundle turner 1h (FIGURES l, 2, 3, 5 and 9) is constructed to provide a cylindrical member or drum 15 supported for rotation about its long axis which is disposed transversely of the path of movement of the sheets on the conveyors 11 and 12. The drum 15 is mounted at its opposite ends, in a horizontally disposed frame having upright, parallel disposed end frame members 16 and 17, a connecting top frame 18 and bottom frame members 2%. Both end members 16 and 17 are in the form of shallow upright housings facing in opposite directions and provided with doors or hin ed cover plates which are omitted from the drawings. Two horizontally disposed roller conveyor sections 21 and 22 which also serve as bundle clamps are mounted within the drum so that they are movable toward and from the center of rotation of the drum to clamp a bundle and also so that they are rotatable with the drum after they are moved to bundle I clamping position.

The drum 15 (FIGURES 2, 3, 5 and 9) is formed by two circular plates 23 and 24 which are disposed in parallel spaced relation with corresponding portions of their peripheries connected by two shell sections 25 and 26 which in the postiion of the machine shown in FIGURE 9 are disposed at the top and bottom of the drum, leaving entrance and exit openings 27 and 28, and these openings are aligned so as to provide an unobstructed horizontal passageway through the drum when the clamp sections 21 and 22 are in top and bottom or open position. The circular end plates 23 and 24- are provided with relatively short, outwardly extending shafts or journal members 30 and 31 (FIGURES 2, 3, 5 and 6) which are rotatably supported in sleeve bearing members 32 and 33 mounted in the end frame plates 34 and 35 of the end frame members 16 and 17.

Cover forming members for the openings 27 and 28, in the form of cylindrical sections 36 and 37 (FIGURES 2, 3, 5, 6 and 7), are mounted in the drum shell for movement inside of the shell members 25 and 26. The cover members 36 and 37 are mounted on opposite ends of a pair of end supporting arms 38 and 39. The arms 38 and 39 have pivotal connections 4-6 and 41, at their corresponding ends, with cover members 36 and 37 at the ends of opposite edges of the latter so that rotation of the arms 38 and 39 in one direction moves the two cover members simultaneously in the direction to close the drum openings 27 and 28. Reverse movement of the arms 38 and 39, of course, retracts the cover members 36 and 37. The cover supporting arms 38 and 39 are attached to the inner ends of axially aligned supporting shafts 42 and 43 which extend in rotatable relation in the drum end journals 30 and 31 (FIGURES 3 and 6). The cover members 36 and 37 each carry along the edge opposite the pivoted connection with the supporting arms three support rollers 44 (FIGURES 6 and 7) mounted in brackets 45 which support rollers 44 engage with the inside surfaces of the drum shell members 25 and 26. The

cover members 36 and 37 ride on rollers 46 mounted in brackets 47 on cross tie members 48 and 49 which extend between and join the end plates 23 and 24 of the drum. The cross tie members 48 and 49 are provided with bumper stops 5t and 51 having bumper pads 59' and 51 which limit the movement of the arms 38 and 39 in the direction of opening movement of the cover members 36 and 37 The one cover shaft 42 carries a sprocket 53 (FIGURE 3) on its outer end which is connected by a drive chain 54 with the sprocket 55. The sprocket 55 is mounted on a main drive shaft 56 and connected thereto through a slip clutch 57. The shaft 56 carries sprocket 58 adjacent the clutch 57 which is connected by drivechain 61) with the output sprocket 61 on a gear reduction box 62 which has a direct drive connection with the motor 63, both of the latter being mounted on the supporting frame 18 at the top of the machine. This constitutes the main drive for the machine. The cover shaft 42 also car ries a smaller sprocket 64 which is connected by drive chain 1 through the machine and is journaled in bearing members 74 in the end frames 16 and 17. The shaft 56 carries a pair of pinious 75 at opposite ends thereof which drive ring gear assemblies 76 and 77, which assemblies are mounted inside of the end frames 16 and 17. The ring gear assemblies 76 and 77 are of identical construction except for being rights and lofts and only one will be described. The ring gear assembly 76 comprises a ring gear 80 (FIGURES 3 and 8), an outer supporting plate 81 and an inner cam plate 82, the ring gear 86 being 7 mounted between the two plates 8-1 and 32 and the plates 65 with a sprocket 66 on the one end of cross shaft 67. The cross shaft 67 has its opposite ends journaled in bearings 68 and 70 mounted in the end frames 16 and 1'7, and v so that both arms 38 and 39 are rotated in unison when connected to the main drive of the machine.

The main drive shaft 56 (FIGURES 2 and 3) extends 81 and 82 being attached at their centers to axially spaced flange portions of a supporting hub 83 which is rotatably mounted on the journal member 31 between the drum end plate 23 and the end frame plate 34. The ring gear assemblies 76 and 77 both have operating connections with the drum 15 which will be hereinafter described.

The cam plate 82 of the ring gear assembly 76 rides in a pair of bottom support rolls 34 and 85 which are mounted on cross shafts 86 and 87 supported on bracket members 38 and 90 on the bottom frame members 20' at the lower corners of the end frames Hand 17. The rollers 84 and 85 have peripheral flanges so as to provide a track forming groove for receiving the edge of the plate 82. The ring gear assembly 77 at the other end of the machine, which is constructed in the same manner as the ring gear assembly 7 6, is supported on the cross shafts 3'6 and 87 by corresponding track forming flanged rollers. The rollers 84 and 85 at each end of the machine provides additional support for the mechanism.

The two roller sections 21 and 22 which are supported in the drum 15 are of identical construction and only one will be described. The roller section 22, which is shown in the drawings in the bottom or lowermost position where it is aligned with the infeed and outfeed conveyors 11 and 12, comprises a rectangular frame (FIGURES 2, 4, 10, l1 and 12) and a plurality of conveyor rollers 161 having shaft ends of reduced section and journaled in bearing bracket members. 102 and 103 extending along the end frame structures 104 and 1115 of the frame 100. The frame 109 includes a bottom plate 106 and parallel, vertically disposed reinforcing plates 107 mounted between the rollers 101. Center support rollers 198 are provided beneath each of the rollers 101 which are journaled in U-shaped bearing brackets 110 supported on the bottom plate 1&6. The rollers 101 are connected in driv ing relation at one end thereof by pairs of sprockets 111 and 112 carried on the ends of the rollers and connected by a chain 113 and the adjacent rollers of each pair thereof are connected by sprockets 114 and 115 and driving chain 116. The roller 117 at the leading side of the frame carries a sprocket 118 which is connected by driving chain 120 with the sprocket 112 on the next adjacent roller 161 so that all the rollers are connected together and driven by roller 117. The roller 117 carries a gear 121 and provision is made for connecting this gear in driving relation with the power drive for the conveyor 12 in a manner which will be described.

A locking mechanism is provided for preventing rotation of the rollers 101 and 117 when the frame 100 is moved out of the position shown in FIGURES 1 and 10. The locking mechanism is operative when the roller section is in the position shown in FIGURES 1 and 10 where the rollers are connected in driving relation with the power drive of the conveyor 12. The locking mechanism comprises an elongate tube 125 (FIGURES 10 and 11) w hich is mounted in sliding relation in a guideway 126 formedas shown in FIGURE 10 along the one end structure 1114 of the frame 190. The locking tube 125 is provided with contoured teeth 127 on the end thereof adjacent the gear 121 on. the roller 117, the teeth 127 being formed so that they are adapted to engage with the teeth on the gear 121 when tube 125 is extended to the right in 130 in the tube 125 and its outer end seated on the end of an adjusting screw 131, the latter being mounted in threaded relation in an apertured block 132 extending upwardly of the floor of the guideway 126. An arm 133 is secured to the end of the tube 125 and projects downwardly therefrom for engagement with the end sleeve 13 2- on the cross support tube 49, the sleeve 134 also serving to support the one side of the frame 1%. The support or tie tube member 49 is provided with the sleeves 134 at each end thereof and these sleeves are engaged by the bottom plate 106 of the frame 1% as shown in FIGURE 10. The arm 133 engages the tube sleeve 134 when the frame is in the position shown in FTGURE 10 and retracts the tube so that the teeth 127 are out of engagement with the gear 121 and the latter is free for driving the rollers 117 and 101 through the chain connections therewith. When the frame 109 is raised for clamping a bundle between the conveyor sections 21 and 22, the arm 133 is freed from engagement with the tube 4-9 and the spring 128 extends the tube 125 to engage the teeth 127 with the gear 121 so as to hold the rollers in the assembly or roller section 22 against rotation. The frame 168 of the conveyor section 22 is provided at the corners of the leading side thereof with pivot bearings and 136 (FIGURES 4 and 13) which are mounted in the frame end sections 104 and 1115 and which are seated in bearings 137 and 138 in the drum end plates 23 and 2dand pivotally mounting at one end thereof the arms or links 140 and 141 which links are connected at their other end by a cross bar 142. The cross bar 142 is secured at its ends to the arms 14!) and 141 and provided with tapered axial end recesses 143 (FTGURE 3) into which stub shafts 144 are secured. The stub shafts 144 have bearings rotatably mounting flanged follower rolls 145 secured on the outer ends thereof. A cylindrical end portion of the stub shaft 144 extends beyond the end of the cross bar 142 and rides in a relatively short slot 1 17 in an end plate 148 which depends in the form of a bracket from the end structure 134 of the frame 1%. The slot 147 is on a circle having its axis coinciding with the axis of the pivot 135 connecting the arm 14% with the frame 130. The bracket plate 148 is connected to a corresponding bracket plate 148 at the other end of the frame 165) by a bottom bracing channel 154 The slots 14-7 in the two bracket plates provide for limited movement of the shafts 144 about the pivot axis 135, 13-6 of the arms 14-43 and 141 and their connecting bar 142. The cylindrical section 146 of the stub shaft 144 also extends through a slot 151 in the end plate 23. The slot 151 is on the same radius as the slot 147 but extends a much greater distance to wards the center of the axis of rotation of the drum 15. A corresponding slot is provided in the end plate 24 at the other end of the machine. The roller 145 on the end of the shaft 14drides in a slot 152 provided in the plate 82 of the ring gear assembly 76. The slot 152 is semicircular with a much shorter radius than the slot 151 and extends from a point adjacent the periphery of the plate 123 to a point on the opposite side of the drum axis. A corresponding slot is provided in the corresponding plate of the ring gear assembly 77 at the other end of the machine for receiving the roller 145 on the end of arm 141 so that the two arms are caused to move in unison by the slots 152 upon simultaneous rotation of the ring gear assemblies 76 and 77. When the ring gear assemblies "in and 77 are rotated counterclockwise as viewed in FIG- URES l and 8, the rollers 14-5 are caused to travel in the slots 152 toward the axis of rotation of the drum. The initial rotation of the ring gear assemblies 76 and 77 moves the shaft sections 146 into engagement with the edges of the plates 14-8 at the upper ends of the slots 147 and further rotation lifts the clamp and conveyor section 22 toward the axis of the drum.

A stop plate 153 (FIGURES 2, 4 and 9) is mounted on the vertical reinforcing plate 154 at the side of the frame 1% adjacent the roller 117. The plate 153 is slotted at 155 and mounted on a pair of spaced bolts 156 so that it will slide by gravity to an extended position when the conveyor section is rotated to an inverted position as shown in connection with the uppermost conveyor sec tion 21 in FEGURE 9. The plate 153 functions as a stop for the bundle in the event there is some malfunction and the bundle slips during turning. As the drum 15 finishes turning, the plate 153 will slide by gravity to the retracted position shown in the lowermost conveyor section 22 in FIGURE 9 where it will not interfere with the advance of the bundle.

The upper conveyor section 21 is constructed and mounted in the drum 15 in the same manner as the lower conveyor section 22 and it is moved by action of the slots 152' in the plates 82 in the direction of the axis of rotation of the drum to clamp the bundle between the conveyor sections 21 and 22. As the ring gear assemblies turn and eifect tight clamping of the bundle between the conveyor sections 21 and 22 the drum 15 is caused to rotate against the holding effect of the brake and indexing mechanisms hereinafter described.

Each of the drum end plates 23 and 24 carries on its peripheral edge a brake shoe 1611 which is engaged by top and bottom brake bands 161 and 162 as shown in connection with end plate 23 in FIGURE 9 particularly. Each of the brake bands 161 and 162 is anchored at one end to a supporting bracket 163 which extends inwardly in the axial direction of the drum 15 on the vertical face of the adjacent end support frame 17 and each supporting bracket 163 carries a tensioning apparatus which is connected to the opposite end of the other brake band. Two of the brackets 163 are provided for the pair of brake bands associated with each end plate 23, 24 and these brackets are supported on the opposite vertical faces of the end support frames with the brackets being of identical construction and differing only in that one is inverted relative to the other as shown in FIGURE 9. The one bracket 163 has the lower brake band 162 connected thereto by pivot 16 1- while the upper brake band 161 has a short length of chain 165 on its end which is curved around part of the periphery of idler roller 1%. The roller 166 is supported on shaft member 167 journaled between spaced side plates 168 which form a housing on the bracket 163. A pin 17% having one end threaded is connected at the other end to the free end of the chain 165 and a compression spring 171 is mounted on the pin with one end seated in a perforated cap-like retainer member 172 mounted on the cover plate 173 which extends between the top portions of the two plates 168 and a nut forming cap-like retainer member 174 on the screw threaded end of the pin 171i. Screwing down the retainer 174-, of course, increases the tension in the upper brake band 161. The bracket 163 also carries a spring pressed indexing roller 175 which is adapted to seat in cooperating recesses 176 and 177 provided in the brake shoe 160 at diametrically opposite points on the drum 15 so as to hold the drum 15 in proper position relative to the infeed and outfeed conveyors 11 and 12 when the drum is in non-rotating position and for other purposes hereinafter referred to. The roller 175 is journaled in one end of a tubular support 178 which is slidable in a guideway 189 extending radially relative to the end plate 23. A compression spring 131 is mounted in the tube with one end encompassing a small tube 182 in the support tube 178 and the other end engaging an abutment forming head on a pin 183 which is slidably mounted in the tube 182. A compression adjusting bolt 184 is threaded into a cover plate 135 on the end of the guideway 189 and engages with the head of the pin 183. The pressure exerted by the spring 18-1 on the indexing roller 175 is, of course, controlled by turning the adjusting bolt 134. The spring pressure is adjusted by bolt 184 so that the drum is held in position by the indexing rollers 175 engaging in the recesses 176, 177 until the bundle is clamped tightly between the clamp and conveyor sections 21 and 22 after which the drum rotates with the gear assemblies 76 and 77 to turn through 180 and again engage the rollers 175 in the recesses 176, 177, holding the drum while the gear assemblies are reversed to retract the conveyor sections 21 and 22 for releasing the bundle. The tension in the brake bands is adjusted so that the eccentric action of the plates 82 is tight and also to prevent the conveyor sections 21 and 22 from opening up in the event the drum stops turning between start and 180 turn over.

The lowermost conveyor section 22, when in the position shown in FIGURE 1, is connected in driving relation with the power drive for the outfeed conveyor 12 oythe mechanism shown in FIGURES 14 and 15. A gear box 190 is mounted on the top face of a bracket 191 which is connected by pivot pin 192 with a support bracket 193, the latter being secured on the bottom cross frame member 90. A gear 194 is mounted on a shaft 195 which is journaled in the gear box 190, the latter having its walls cut away at the corner to expose a portion of the gear 194 for engagement with the gear 121 on the clamp and conveyor section 22. The gear 194 meshes with gear 196 which is mounted on shaft 197 also journaled in the gear box 190. The shaft 197 projects out of the box 199 at its inner end and carries a sprocket 198. The sprocket 198 is connected by chain 200 with sprockets 261 and 202 on the ends of a pair of adjacent rollers 203 and 204 on the conveyor 12. The rollers 263 and 2%- are connected to a drive mechanism (not shown) for the conveyor 12.

The pivotally mounted bracket 191 is urged in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in FIGURE 15 by a compression spring 205 which is seated at one end in the open end of a tubular slide member 2%. The slide member 2136 is secured at its closed end to the outer vertical face of the bracket 193 and is received in sliding relation in a guideway forming tube 2157 secured on the bracket 191. The spring 205 is seated in its other end in a retainer cap 208, also slidable in the guide tube 287, and abutting the inner end of an adjusting screw 210 mounted in axially extending relation in the outer end of the guide tube 207. A cam follower roller 211 is supported in a U-shaped bearing bracket 212 on the gear box 191) immediately below the gear 194 and a cam plate 213 is mounted on the end structure of the frame 10%) which is engaged by the follower roller 211 when the drum begins to rotate in a counterclockwise direction with the roller section 22 in the lowered position where the gear 121 normally meshes with the gear 194 so that the drive for the roller section is disconnected immediately the drum begins to turn or upon upward movement of the roller section 22 at the start of the clamping operation. The movement of the gear box 1% is limited in the counterclockwise direction as viewed in FIGURE 14 by a stop bolt 215 which is anchored at one end to the bracket 193 and has its threaded other end extending through a slot 216 in the support bracket 191 and receiving lock nuts 217 thereon.

The supporting shaft 43 (FIGURES and 6 for the cover arm 39 carries a switch operating cam plate 226 (FIGURES 6 and 16) for actuating a limit switch LS2 mounted on the end frame 18 by means of bracket 221. The limit switch LS2 controls the movement of the drum cover members 36 and 37. The journal member 31 carries a cam plate 222 which actuates the limit switch LS1 also mounted on the end frame bracket 221 which controls the movement of the drum 15. The limit switches may be operated by cam members carried on other moving parts of the machine. For example, the limit switch LS2 may be mounted on the frame end structure and operated by a cam carried on the gear plate 81.

The limit switches LS1 and LS2 are connected into the electrical circuit for controlling the operation of the motor 63 which drives the machine. The motor is equipped with a magnetic starter having two forward and reverse terminals as indicated at FN and RN in the circuit diagram in FIGURE 17. In the starting position of the machine when the drum is open and a bundle is in place on the lowermost conveyor section ready for turning, the switch LS1 is open and also the spring loaded push button forward and reverse switches. To start the machine the main offend-on switch is closed and then the push button forward switch is pressed by the operator which starts the motor 63 and turns the ring gear assemblies 76 and 77 in the counterclockwise direction as viewed in FIGURE 1. The forward switch is held until contact FN closes and until the cam 222 permits switch LS1 to close. In the machine illustrated, this switch is held until the drum 15 rotates enough for the rollers 175 to be moved out of the recesses 1'76 and 177, when the switch may be released and the drum will continue to rotate. The bundle is clamped between the conveyor sections 21 and 22, the doors and 37 are closed, and the drum 15 turns through 180; The limit switch LS1 is actuated or opened by the cam plate 222 (FIGURES 6 and 16) at the end of the turning cycle and the motorstops. The reverse switch is pressed which closes contact RN and starts the motor 63 in reverse since switch LS2 is already closed and the ring gear assemblies 76 and 77 are turned in the reverse or clockwise direction, separating the conveyor sections 21 and 22 so as to release the bundle, and also opening the doors 3:5 and 37. The limit switch LS2 is operated by cam plate 220 to automatically stop the motor when the doors are fully open and the lowermost clamp and conveyor section is in fully retracted position for discharge of the bundle from the machine.

In the operation of the machine the normal inoperative or non-turning position is shown in FIGURE 1 with the lowermost clamp and conveyor section 22 being in fully retracted position where it is aligned with conveyors 11 and 12 and being driven through the gear assembly in the box 19% by the discharge conveyor 12. In this position a bundle or pack of sheets or any other material advanced by the infeed conveyor 11 will be passed through the openings 27 and 28 in the drum 15 by operation of the roller conveyor section 22 and delivered to the outfeed conveyor 12. If it is desired to turn a bundle the forward starter switch is operated when the bundle B is delivered by the conveyor 11 into the machine so that it is supported on the lowermost clamp and conveyor section 22 (FIGURE 1). Operation of the forward starter switch actuates the motor 63 which drives the shaft 56 and through the pinions rotates the gear assemblies 76 and 77 in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in FIGURE 1. The shaft 56 also turns the stub shafts 42 and 43 which carry the doors 36 and 37 through the chain and sprocket connections 53, 54, 55 and the clutch 57. The clutch 57 slips when the doors are fully closed. The operation of the ring gear assemblies 76 and 77 rotates the cam plates 82 and through the pivot and slot connections 144, 152 and 144', 152 causes the clamp and conveyor sections 21 and 22 to swing toward each other until they clamp the bundle B between their opposed roller surfaces. The clamp and conveyor sections 21 and 22 swing on the pivots and 136 connecting them with the end plates 23 and 24 of the drum 15 during this clamping movement. When the clamp and conveyor sections 21 and 22 have closed on the bundle B continued rotation of the plates 82 and ring gear assemblies 76 and 77 causes rotation of the drum 15. This rotation continues until the drum has moved through 180 when actuation of the limit switch LS1 by the cam plate 222 stops the motor. The brake bands and 162 assist in bringing the drum 15 to a stop quickly with the stopping point being determined by the rollers dropping. into the recesses 176 and 177 in the brake shoe 16%. After the drum is stopped the reverse switch is operated which starts the motor 63 in reverse, rotating the gear assemblies 75 and 77 in a clockwise direction and opening the doors 36 and 37. The rotation of plates 82 of the gear assemblies 76 and 77 moves the clamp and conveyor sections 21 and 22 to their retracted position. As the lowermost section 22 moves into final position, the slide tube 125 is retracted to unlock the drive for the rollers 101 and 117 and the gear 121 moves into engagement with the gear B4 to drive the roller section 22 and move the bundle through the opening in the side wall of the drum onto the discharge conveyor 12. This completes the cycle of operation of the machine.

In practice it has been found that the arms 140 and 141 and the slots 147 in the plates 148 may be eliminated and the tube 142 with its pivot forming end members 144 and follower rollers 145 may be rigidly secured to the bottom of the frame 109 of each of the clamp and conveyor sections in a fixed position relative to the conveyor sections 21 and 22. The initial free motion aiforded the arms 140 and 141 by the slots 147 in the plates 148 is not necessary for successful operation of the machine. This modification of the structure operates in the same manner as the construction illustrated in the drawings.

While particular materials and specific details of construction have been referred to in describing the illustrated form of the machine, it will be understood that equivalent materials and other details of construction may be resorted to within the spirit of the invention.

I claim:

1. A bundle turning machine adapted to be positioned between a pair of horizontally disposed, material advancing conveyors, said machine comprising an upright supporting frame, a drum mounted for rotation in the frame on an axis extending transversely of the path of the material on the conveyors, said drum having aligned openings in the side walls to permit free passage therethrough of material, a pair of clamp forming conveyor sections mounted in said drum, the lowermost one of said sections having a material carrying surface which in the nonclamping position thereof is aligned with the correspond ing surfaces of said pair of conveyors so as to form a bridge between the same for passage of material, means to move said conveyor sections in a radial direction toward the axis of rotation of the drum and into clamping engagement with material delivered to the lowermost one of said conveyor sections when the drum is in normal nonrotating position, said conveyor sections being connected to said drum for rotation therewith, means to rotate said drum through 180 to invert the conveyor sections, means to'move the conveyor sections apart to unclamp the material and means operative to connect the lowermost one of said conveyor sections to the drive mechanism for the adjoining conveyor whereby to advance the material when the lowermost one of said conveyor sections is in normal non-clamping position.

2. A bundle turning machine adapted to be positioned between a pair of material advancing conveyors having horizontally disposed, material supporting top runs, said machine comprising an upright supporting frame, a drum mounted for rotation in the frame on an axis extending transversely of the path of advance of the material on the conveyors, said drum having aligned openings in the side walls to permit unobstructed passage of material therethrough, a pair of clamp forming conveyor sections mounted in said drum, said conveyor sections being disposed in vertically spaced relation in the non-rotating position of said drum, and the lowermost one of said conveyor sections being aligned with the top runs of the adjoining conveyors, means to move said conveyor sections in a radial direction toward the axis of rotation of the drum and into clamping engagement with material delivered to the lowermost one of said conveyor sections, means to hold said conveyor sections in parallel relation during their clamping movement, said conveyor sections being connected to said drum for rotation therewith, means to rotate said drum through 180 to invert said conveyor sections, means to move said conveyor sections apart so as to unclamp the material and means to drive the lowermost one of said conveyor sections when it is aligned with the material supporting top runs of the adjoining conveyors.

3. A bundle turning machine as recited in claim 2, and means for disconnecting the drive for said lowermost conveyor section when said conveyor sections are in clamping position and said drum is rotated.

4. A bundle turning machine adapted to be disposed in a horizontal conveyor line, said machine comprising an upright supporting frame, a drum mounted for rotation in the frame on an axis extending transversely of the path of the material advancing on the adjoining conveyor members, said drum having aligned openings in the side walls to permit free passage of material therethrough, a pair of clamp forming horizontal roller conveyor sections mounted in vertically spaced relation in said drum above and below the axis of rotation of the drum, when the drum is in normal non-rotating position, with the lowermost one of said conveyor sections being aligned with the adjoining conveyor members, means to move said conveyor sections in a direction toward the axis of rotation of the drum and into clamping engagement with material delivered to the lowermost one of said conveyor sections, means connecting said conveyor sections to said drum for rotation therewith, means to rotate said drum through 18 to invert said conveyor sections, means to retract said conveyor sections to unclamp the material and means to rotate the rollers in the lowermost conveyor section when said conveyor section is retracted and the drum is in non-rotating position thereby to advance the material through the machine.

5. A bundle tuming machine as recited in claim 4, and said conveyor sections each comprising a frame, a pinrality of parallel rollers rotatably mounted on said frame, means connecting the rollers for simultaneous rotation and a gear on one of the rollers which is moved into driving relation with a power drive mechanism fhen the conveyor section is retracted and the frame is in its lowermost position in the drum.

6. A bundle turning machine as recited in claim 4, and said conveyor sections each comprising a supporting frame, parallel rollers journaled in said frame, drive means connecting said rollers, and a drive connection on the outermost roller at one side of the frame for engaging in driving relation with a drive mechanism when said conveyor section is moved to its lowermost retracted position in the drum.

7. A bundle turning machine as recited in claim 6, and means for locking the rollers in said conveyor section against rotation when said conveyor section is moved out of its lowermost position in the drum.

8. A bundle turning machine as recited in claim 4, and said conveyor sections each comprising a rectangular frame, parallel rollers journaled in said frame, drive means connecting said rollers, a toothed drive member on the outermost roller at one side of said frame for engaging with a cooperating drive member on a drive mechanism mounted adjacent the machine when said conveyor section is disposed in its lowermost retracted position in the drum.

9. A bundle turning machine as recited in claim 8, and a lock bar slidingly mounted on said rectangular frame and having teeth at one end thereof for engaging with said toothed drive member to lock said rollers against rotation when said conveyor section is moved out of said lowermost position in the drum.

10. A bundle turning machine adapted to be disposed in a horizontal conveyor line between a pair of material advancing conveyors, said machine comprising an upright supporting frame, a drum mounted for rotation in the frame on an axis extending transversely of the path of advance of the material on the adjoining conveyors, said drum having aligned side walls with openings therein to permit passage of material, cover members for said openings slidably mounted in the drum, a pair of bundle clamping conveyor sections mounted in said drum, said conveyor sections each comprising a rectangular frame and a plurality of material supporting rollers mounted in said rectangular frame, said conveyor sections being mounted for movement toward the axis of rotation of the drum and into clamping engagement with material de iii livered to the lowermost one of said conveyor sections when the drum is in normal non-rotating position and said lowermost conveyor section is fully retracted to nonclamping position, said conveyor sections each being pivotally connected to said drum on spaced axes which are l parallel with the axis of rotation of the drum, power means connected to the conveyor sections and to the drum which is operative to first move the conveyor sections into material clamping position and then to rotate said drum through 180 to invert the conveyor sections, said power means being adapted to be reversed so as to move the conveyor sections apart to u-nclamp the material and means to connect the lowermost conveyor section to a drive mechanism when said conveyor section is moved to its lowermost retracted position for delivering the material to the adjoining conveyor in the line.

11 A bundle turner comprising a rotatably mounted cylindrical member having side walls with diametrically positioned openings for passing a bundle freely therethrough, a pair of spaced, parallel roller conveyor sections movably mounted in said cylindrical member, power operated meansfor first moving said conveyor sections toward each other to clamp a bundle which has passed through one of said side wall openings between the same and for thereafter turning the cylindrical member through 180 to invert the bundle, and power operated drive mechanism for rotating the rollersi-n the lowermost conveyor section which drive mechanism is disconnected when said lowermost roller section is retracted to a non-clamping position and While the cylindrical member is rotating.

12. A bundle turning machine comprising an upright frame adapted to be positioned between infeed and outfeed conveyors which support material for movement in a horizontal plane, a cylinder mounted in said frame for rotation about a horizontal axis extending transversely of the path of advance of mate-rial carried on said conveyors, said cylinder member having side walls with openings disposed in one position thereof to pass material from the infeed conveyor through the turning machine to the outfeed conveyor, a pair of roller conveyor sections mounted in vertically spaced relation in said one position of said cylinder member with the lowermost conveyor section aligned with said'infeed and outfeed conveyors, a plate member mounted at each end of said cylinder member for rotation on the axis of rotation of said cylinder member, said roller conveyor sections having pivotal connections with said cylinder member and pivotal and sliding connections with said plate members, and power means for rotating said plate members to first move said roller conveyorsections toward each other to clamp a bundle and thereafter to turn said cylinder member to invert the bundle, said plate members being rotatable in the reverse direction to release the bundle for discharge to the outfeed conveyor.

13. A bundle turner comprising a rotatably mounted cylindrical member having end walls and side walls with axially extending, diametrically positioned openings for passing a bundle therethroug-hpa pair of spaced, parallel roller conveyor sections pivotally 'mountedialong opposite edges thereof to the end walls of said cylindrical member, a common power drive means operative for first swinging said conveyor sections toward each other about their pivotal mountings to clamp a bundle between the same and for thereafter turning the cylindrical member through 180 'to invert the bundle, means conmeeting the rollers in the conveyor section for rotation of said rollers, and power operated drive mechanism positioned for connection to the rollers in the conveyor section which is lowermost when said conveyor section is in non-clamping position and the'cylin-drical member is in predetermined nonrotating position, said drive mech anism being disconnected when said conveyor sect-ion is in clamping position and the cylindricalimember is ro- 'tating. a. a a V i 14. A bundle turning machine comprising an upright frame adapted to be positioned between infeed and outfeed conveyors which advance material in a horizontal plane, a cylinder mounted in said frame forrotation about a horizontal axis extending transversely of the path of advance of material carried on said conveyors, said cylinder member having end walls and side walls with openings disposed in one position thereof to pass material from the infeed conveyor through the cylinder to the outfeed conveyor, a pair of roller conveyor sections mounted in vertically spaced relation in said one position of said cylinder member with the lowermost conveyor section having a material supporting surface aligned with adjacent material supporting surfaces of said infeed and outfeed conveyors, a plate member mounted at each end of said cylinder member for rotation on the axis of rotation of said cylinder member, said roller conveyor sections having pivotal connect-ions along opposite sides thereof with the end walls of said cylinder member, said roller conveyor sections having pivot members extending axially at, opposite end-s thereof, said plate members having cam slots receiving said pivot members, and power means for rotating said plate members to first pivot said roller conveyor sections toward each a other about their pivotal connections vwith the cylinder end Walls to clamp a bundle and thereafter to turn said cylinder member to invert the bundle, said plate members being rotatable in the reverse direction by said'power means to u-nclamp the bundle, and means for driving the rollers in the conveyor section which is lowermost when it is aligned with the adjacent conveyor so as to advance the bundle to the discharge conveyor.

15. A bundle turning machine adapted to be disposed in a horizontal conveyor line between a pair of material advancing conveyors, said machine comprising an upright supporting frame, a drum mounted for rotation in the frame on an axis extending transversely of the path of advance of the material on the adjoining conveyors,

said drum having end walls and side walls with oppositely disposed openings in the side walls to permit passage of material, cover members for said openings mounted in the drum for movementialong the inside of the drum side Walls, a pair of clamp forming conveyor sections mounted in said drum, said conveyor sections each cornprising a rectangular frame and a plurality of material supporting rollers, mounted in said rectangular frame, said conveyor sections each pivot-ally, connected along one side thereof to the drum end Walls for swinging move-' ment on an axisrparallel with the axis of rotation of the drum,1means to; swing said conveyor sections into clamping relation with material which is delivered to the lowermost one of said conveyor sections when the drum is in normal non-rotating position, a cam plate and driving gear at each end of the drum, said conveyor sections each having pivot members at opposite ends with axes which are parallel with the axis of rotation of the drum and spaced from the pivotal connection with the drum end walls, said cam plate having eccentric cam slots receiving the pivots on the conveyor sections, power means connected to the driving gears which is operative to first rotate the cam plates and move the conveyor sections into material clamping position and then to rotate said drum through 180 to invert the conveyor sections, said power means being reversible when the drum has ro'- tated so as to move the conveyor sections apart to unclainp the material and means connecting the lowermost conveyor section to a drive mechanism when said conveyor section 'isv rnoved to its lowermost position for advancing the material out of the drum and to the adjoining conveyor'in the line.

16. A bundle turning machine adapted to be positioned in a horizontal conveyor line between a pair of material advancing conveyors, said machine comprising an upright supporting frame, a drum mounted for rotation in.

ens nova said drum having end walls and side Walls with openings in said side walls to permit passage of material when the drum i in normal non-rotating position, cover members for said openings rotatably mounted in telescoping relation to the side walls of the drum, a pair of bundle clamping roller conveyor sections mounted in said drum, said conveyor sections each comprising a rectangular frame and a plurality of material supporting rollers mounted in said rectangular frame, said conveyor sections having spaced, axially extending pivots at opposite ends thereof, one pair of said pivots adjacent a side of said rectangular frame being journaled in the end walls of the drum, another pair of said pivots extending through clearance slots in the drum end walls, cam plates rotatably mounted adjacent said drum end Walls and having curved cam slots receiving said last mentioned pair of pivots, power means connected to said cam plates which is operative to rotate said cam plates so as to first swing the conveyor sections toward each other intomaterial clamping position and then to rotate said drum through 180 to invert the conveyor sections, means to reverse the rotation of said cam plates so as to move the conveyor sections apart to unclamp the material and mean to connect the lowermost conveyor section to a drive mecha nism when said drum is in non-rotating position and said conveyor section is moved to its lowermost position for delivering the material to the adjoining conveyor in the line.

17. A bundle turning machine adapted to be disposed in a horizontal conveyor line between a pair of material advancing conveyors, said machine comprising an upright supporting frame, a drum mounted for rotation in the frame on an axis extending transversely of the path of advance of the material on the adjoining conveyors, said drum having end Walls and side Walls with openings in the side walls to permit free passage of material through the drum when the drum is in normal non-rotating position, cover member for said openings rotatably mounted in the drum, a pair of bundle clamp and conveyor sections mounted in said drum, said clamp and conveyor sections each comprising a rectangular frame and a plurality of rollers mounted therein, said clamp and conveyor sections being pivoted to the drum end walls on an axis radially spaced from the axis of rotation of the drum and movable into clamping engagement with material delivered to the clamp and conveyor section which is lowermost when the drum is in normal non-rotating position, power means connected to the clamp and conveyor sections and to the drum which is operative to first move the conveyor sections into material clamping position and then to rotate said drum through 180 to invert the clamp and conveyor sections, said power means being operable to move the clamp and conveyor sections apart to unclamp the inverted material and mean to connect the clamp and conveyor section which is lowermost to a drive mechanism when said clamp and conveyor section is moved to its lowermost non-clamping posit-ion thereby to advance the material out of the machine and onto the adjoining conveyor in the line.

18. A bundle turning machine adapted to be disposed in a conveyor line between a pair of conveyors having horizontally disposed material supporting runs, said machine comprising an upright supporting frame, a drum mounted for rotation in the frame on an axis extending transversely of the path of advance of the material on the adjoining conveyors, said drum having end walls and side walls with oppositely disposed openings in the side walls to permit passage of material, cover members for said openings, cover supporting arm members pivoted on an axis coinciding with the axis of the drum and swingable to move the cover members into the drum openings, a pair of bundle clamping conveyor sections mounted in said drum, said conveyor sections each comprising a rectangular frame and a plurality of material supporting rollers mounted in said rectangular frame, said conveyor sections being mounted for movement toward the axis of rotation of the drum and into clamping engagement with material delivered to the conveyor section which is lowermost when the drum is in normal non-rotating position, said conveyor sections being pivotally connected to the end walls of said drum on parallel spaced axes which are parallel with the axis of rotation of the drum, drive means connected to the conveyor sections, to the cover supporting arm members and to the drum which is operative to move the conveyor sections into material clamping position, to close the cover members and to rotate said drum through 180 to invert the conveyor sections, said drive means being adapted to be reversed so as to move the conveyor sections apart to unclarnp the material and to retract the cover members to open position.

19. A bundle turning machine as recited in claim 18, and cam oper-tted means for controlling said drive means so as to limit the rotation of the drum and the retraction of the cover members.

Reterences Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,679,817 6/54 Gabner. 2,705,570 4/55 Maissian. 2,746,616 5/56 Sinclair. 2,865,516 12/58 Hedder-ich. 3,071,257 1/63 Jones. 3,071,258 1/63 Seigh.

HUGO O. SCHULZ, Primary Examiner, 

1. A BUNDLE TURNING MACHINE ADAPTED TO BE POSITIONED BETWEEN A PAIR OF HORIZONTALLY DISPOSED, MATERIAL ADVANCING CONVEYORS, SAID MACHINE COMPRISING AN UPRIGHT SUPPORTING GRAME, A DRUM MOUNTED FOR ROTATION IN THE FRAME ON AN AXIS EXTENDING TRANSVERSELY OF THE PATH OF THE MATERIAL ON THE CONVEYORS, SAID DRUM HAVING ALIGNED OPENINGS IN THE SIDE WALLS TO PERMIT FREE PASSAGE THERETHROUGH OF MATERIAL, A PAIR OF CLAMP FORMING CONVEYOR SECTIONS MOUNTED IN SAID DRUM, THE LOWERMOST ONE OF SAID SECTIONS HAVING A MATERIAL CARRYING SURFACE WHICH IN THE NONCLAMPING POSITION THEREOF IS ALIGNED WITH THE CORRESPONDING SURFACES OF SAID PAIR OF CONVEYORS SO AS TO FORM TO BRIDGE BETWEEN THE SAME FOR PASSAGE OF MATERIAL, MEANS TO MOVE SAID CONVEYOR SECTIONS IN A RADIAL DIRECTION TOWARD THE AXIS OF ROTATION OF THE DRUM AND INTO CLAMPING ENGAGEMENT WITH MATERIAL DELIVERED TO THE LOWERMOST ONE OF SAID CONVEYOR SECTIONS WHEN THE DRUM IS IN NORMAL NONROTATING POSITION, SAID CONVEYOR SECTIONS BEING CONNECTED TO SAID DRUM FOR ROTATION THEREWITH, MEANS TO ROTATE SAID DRUM THROUGH 180* TO INVERT THE CONVEYOR SECTIONS, MEANS TO MOVE THE CONVEYOR SECTIONS APART TO UNCLAMP THE MATERIAL AND MEANS OPERATIVE TO CONNECT THE LOWERMOST ONE OF SAID CONVEYOR SECTIONS TO THE DRIVE MECHANISM FOR THE ADJOINING CONVEYOR WHEREBY TO ADVANCE THE MATERIAL WHEN THE LOWERMOST ONE OF SAID CONVEYOR SECTIONS IS IN NORMAL NON-CLAMPING POSITION. 